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Recent years have seen a great deal of interest in mLearning—mobile learning, or the use of mobile devices such as PDAs like HP's iPaqs—and our recent research on eLearning in the life-sciences industry showed growing interest by a number of pharmaceuticals companies in the use of mLearning for their sales force, for instance. We also addressed the topic of mLearning in the LoD Bulletin (First Quarter 2003). However, relatively few good examples so far demonstrate how effective mobile devices can be for either eLearning or for performance-support applications. For this reason, the presentation at the Helsinki conference by Svend Hansen, CEO of the Danish eLearning company Courseware—which claims to have completed a total of 220 eLearning projects—about the use of mLearning in the Danish railroad (DSB), generated considerable interest.
DSB is no newcomer to eLearning (other rail companies in Europe, such as Deutsche Bahn, for example, also have long experience with eLearning). DSB has more than 12 years of involvement with various forms of eLearning, including—interestingly—games and simulations (see additional LoD News item this month on game-based learning). DSB has deployed 1500 PDAs for a variety of eLearning applications, including:
- Instruction and tests in specific on-the-train operations.
- "Distance management"—which includes, for example, video and audio clips of management communication, which turn out to be more personal and motivational than circulars and other paper-based communication.
- Product and sales training. Learners also use a search function that helps provide direct access to knowledge that is relevant to the user in particular situations.
Although more time is necessary to assess fully the value and effectiveness of mLearning, this and other deployments that are taking place around the world will help generate the practical experience necessary to boost the credibility of mLearning as a viable eLearning option.
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